Tag: Fabric

Each time we think organic and eco-friendly we instantly think recycled paper, natural fibre like jute and other such material which is branded eco-friendly.All of which sounds good on paper but feels like a very tedious task to actually go ahead and incorporate in our lives. But, doing our bit for nature in terms of recycle and reuse may not necessarily be a tedious task or involve a major change in our lifestyle. Even small things can be done to recycle and revamp our space.

Here are a few examples of how you can reuse and recycle normal household items to revamp your space:

1.Left with single pieces of crockery and cutlery?

Fill the soup bowls and cups with wax to make your own candle’s, which can be remade anytime the was gets over. They make great display pieces and can be used on consoles/dining tables. To learn how check here.

Single left over forks can make for great note holders. Just hang them in the kitchen wall upside down to make note displays.

Left with single pieces of plates, convert them into wall art. Pick a wall in your house to display all these plate

2. Want to revamp your furniture?It does not have to be a long and expensive process, a few tricks and you can revamp it on your own

To change your headboard, you can use leftover fabric swatches to make a cushioned fabric panel. To see how click here.

You can also add fabric or paper at the back of shelves to give a new look to old cupboards and shelves. The same can be done on drawers

Cover your side-table top with a coloured mirror, this will instantly make the piece look new and good.

Have an old shed door lying around? Use it as a mirror frame and have a beautiful mirror as your living room center piece.

3. Other ideas to recycle, reuse and revamp your space

Left over wine bottles-Use them as planters and hang them on your balcony (you can do the same with old light bulbs). Else put fairy lights in them and make them a light display in your living room. Finally, you can also coat them with bright paint and use them as a cluster of vases in different colours

Make memory jars– You don’t have to spend a bomb to buy expensive accessories for your home. Simple food jars can be filled with momentos of your travels and places together to make interesting accessories, they make for great conversation starters as well

Handpainted ceramic tiles-All you need to do is add felt to the bottom and you have beautiful coasters ready for use.

Old car tyres– These can be used as base for your patio tables.Place two tyres on each other and keep two such sets at a distance. Simply place a sheet of acrylic on them and you have an outdoor table

Art work– This does not have to be an expensive investment, one idea is make panels of various sizes and cover them in fabric them place them on a wall. Else use old greeting cards in floating frames and place them on the wall.

Established three decades ago, Shingora has been offering the most spectacular products in the fashion and lifestyle spaces globally. Shingora products embrace a delicate balance between the traditional Indian designs that are lifted to suit contemporary tastes, and colors that lend it an international touch. This luxurious label offers an array of beautiful throws and cushions to match and fit every setting seamlessly. Each piece curated in this label is one of its kind, the product is developed in-house, thus not compromising on the quality of material used. This tastefully curated collection is broadly divided into three categories, each with a different look and feel to add a perfect finishing touch to your home decor.

For the first style the design team has made an effort to revive the golden age of William Morris. A lot of medieval style tapestry motifs like wreaths, parrots, pomegranate etc are tessellated to create overall patterns in interesting 3D surfaces.Second set of the collection is inspired from the classic, traditional Paisleys. They never go out of style and complement any contemporary as well a traditional set up impeccably. The third category in this collection is inspired from modern floral edgy prints. Each piece is a conversation starter that brings quirkiness and fun to a conventional seating area.The fabrics used in making this collection vary from cotton, wool and chenille that are 100% pure. The products range is retailed at an MRP of Rs. Rs 2995 to Rs 6995.After making a mark with their home décor line in the international market, Shingora, the retailer synonymous to style and elegance launches their Home label in India via their e-commerce portal shop.shingora.net this season.

Indian August, a 7500 sq. ft. lifestyle store is located in the heart of Sector 18, market block, Noida. Spread over four floors ir reflects the timeless grace of Indian techniques in the form of apparel, drapes, accessories and interiors by inculcating traditions of weaving, embroidery, intricate block prints and textile dyes. Indian August takes the concept of hand-loom further, presenting an exclusive range of organic khadi in natural dyes.

The store promises to provide a canvas for designers, artists, crafts enthusiasts and revivalists who desire to integrate the Indian handcrafted traditions and present a contemporary vocabulary, bringing more than 25 designers and master craftsmen under one roof with their varied expertise in ikat, brocades, chikankari, kalamkari, chanderi and a long list of other specialities, Indian August is a home of specialists.

The café on the terrace and the exhibition gallery have been designed to discuss the serious and the mundane, over a cup of coffee. In case you seek inspiration, take a round of the 1200 sq. ft. art gallery.With an exclusive display of products in drapes, clothing, soft furnishings, personal and interior accessories and art, Indian August brings together an idea to manifest a real unity in diversity.
Indian August- N-3, Noida Sector-18, U.P. – 201301

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Though I usually refrain from talking about apparels, when I heard Cottons has completed 15 years I had to talk about it. If you already don’t know, I have a soft corner for Indian fabrics and designs, check here if you don’t believe me.
Cottons is a Jaipur based company which was started by Behroze Singh 15 years ago. Being born and brought up in Mumbai and married and settled in Jaipur, she had no formal training in apparel but today Behroze has accomplished one of the most respectable brand names in the apparel industry.After having worked in clothing business for 10 years and observing John and Faith Singh run the business, Behroze moved on to start an independent business – which is how Cottons came about. Cottons was chosen as the brand name for easy recall besides indicating the nature of the product. The name Cottons (Jaipur) is just so customers associate it with Rajasthan, a State famous for bright cheerful colours. Cottons began with its very first outlet in Jaipur followed by New Delhi,Mumbai and Gurgaon along with franchise arrangements in Ahmedabad and Chennai.“Cottons”is a brand synonymous with comfortable, versatile yet trendy clothing made from cotton and cotton blends. It presents a beautiful mix of colours and techniques like block printing, woven fabrics and pin tucking in a variety of styles,which can be worn by almost all ages and sizes. Kurtas, kurtis, skirts, patiala shalwars, capri pants, churidars, dupattas and tops are all sold as separates and stand out for their design and attention to detailing. Highlights of Cottons are the sequined motifs, gudri work, ghunghroos mirror work, badla, beads, khadi motifs which are an apt showcase of traditional Rajasthani crafts on contemporary silhouettes. Cottons works on the lines of affordability, colour varieties and wearability of the clothes. The label believes in providing customer friendly services and encourage them to mix and match and make their own outfit depending on their needs and styles. Eg : A kurti can be teamed with a skirt and stole or with jeans or even with a patiala. Their garments are comfortable and reasonably priced. Their clientel boasts of various spectrum of society i.e from college girls to working women to housewives to celebrity clients such as : Priyanka Gandhi ,Goldie Hawn and Vidya Balan. And the best part, all the unused fabrics is recycled into products like Toys, Notebooks, Bagsand even Jewellery.

” Blue Mango” a womens NGO based in Tamil Nadu makes soft toys for children, which are exclusively available at cotton outlets.

Last night I went to watch this movie called Paan Singh Tomar. Those of you, who have not seen it, it is highly recommended. Especially if I am telling you as I am not a huge movie buff. The story revolves around the true life account of a sportsman Paan Singh Tomar, who turns into a dacoit in the Chambal Valley. Chambal valley is the valley around the Chamba river that flows north-northeast through Madhya Pradesh, running for a time through Rajasthan, then forming the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh before turning southeast to join the Yamuna in Uttar Pradesh state.

Image Courtesy- Better Photography

Besides the brilliance of the movie in terms of the script, acting and direction, I loved the true to life details depicted in the movie. The one thing that caught my eye was the clothes worn by female lead. Don’t get me wrong they were simple clothes, but I loved how the bright colours contrasting came together, especially against the barren backdrop of the landscape. It seemed like the bright clothes were making up for the lack of colour in nature. So after a bit of research I came across an organisation that works to bring beautiful woven textiles to our doorstep called Sariia Navrattan- a Findia Foundation initiative . The journey of Sariia Navrattan began when Findia foundation and a group of emminent Finnish designers called Navrattan joined hands together to intervene in social design. The combination of Finnish designs as well as the rich Indian handloom tradition formed the basis of this initiative. The Sariia Label since has also been awarded the Handloom mark which guarantes the use of natural fabric and loom. It is also being supported be the government of India. On a general note summers area great time to wear cotton. To show your support and buy products from there, do comment back.

Swirl your way into Spring with this pretty pattern that was seen all over the ramp in the spring summer collections. Tracing back its origins to Indian and Iranian history, paisley is back in the limelight. And besides just the ramp and fabrics it is turning up in our homes in everything from Furniture to pottery. So just a dash of paisley can make a bold statement in your homes and add the right amount of vibrancy to any room.

Its spring time and its time to change the upholstery, move away from the heavy fabrics and move in to light airy material. Using natural fabric, inspiration from her travels around the world and Indian embroidery Sarita Handa brings together her latest “luxe” collection for the Spring.

Classic cottons, silks, linens in fashionable colors and sheers in soft muted tones .The array of techniques used in this collection is vast; a mix of Jacquard’s and embroideries;different textures of hand crafted Aari work, Ikat patterns with a twist. As well as embroidery and beautiful floral patterns where the play of color brings alive the natural beauty of the design. Sarita Handa’s designs are a rare compilation which will be hard to find elsewhere.

Established in 1992, the company sells to major retailers around the world like Pottery Barn, Macy’s, Zara Home and Bloomingdale. They are now available in New Delhi at Khan Market.

In addition to the bedding and fabrics collection, ‘SARITA HANDA’ has also brought to India a beautiful range of Merino Wool blankets from Brun de Vian-Tiran, who have been manufacturing natural blankets for over 200 years in France.

The bathsection not only has plush Egyptian cotton towels, matching bathmats and bathrobes from Turkey, but also exquisite bath products from the French brand Lothantique’s ‘Amelie & Melanie’, which ‘SARITA HANDA’ has introduced for the first time in India. The range includes bath oils, soaps and incense sticks formulated using natural elements and ingredients to offer the most enduring fragrances.